Recently some key market access restrictions and new developments have occurred which could influence meat flows globally.
In brief these are:
- China releases 40,000 MT of Brazil beef that was on hold at China wharves for four months. This was based on a dispute over an atypical case of BSE and what production and shipping dates were allowed.
- Australia halted talks with the EU over a trade agreement last week. Currently Australia has a guaranteed quota of 3,389 tonnes with a 20% duty, the EU offered a new beef quota of 24,000 tonnes with a phase down in tariffs. This fell well short of Australia’s expectations for both beef and sheepmeat. Talks will resume next month.
- Poland and Belgium regained beef access (must be deboned meat under 30 months of age) into China after 22 years of being banned. This ban was originally put in place after an outbreak of BSE.
- China has allowed heat treated Pakistan beef to be admitted (except septum, minced beef, minced fat, mechanically separated meat and other by-products are not allowed)
- South Korea has allowed the importation of Uruguayan grinding meat for the first time since 2001, In 2001, access was lost due to FMD. Last year, in July 2022 South Korea also gave access to Chilean beef. Currently Australia, the US, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and Mexico have access to South Korea to export beef.
Many of these changes to access reflect the concerns by both China and South Korea over food security in coming years and the need to sure-up supply bases.
~Simon Quilty